Skeet shooting arrangement

ABSTRACT

A skeet shooting assembly wherein the skeet has a hollow central channel with a cartridge therein. The ignition of the cartridge charge is accomplished by means of a fuse fired by an elongated fuse firing element, preferably of pistol-type which penetrates the central channel and engages the cartridge.

United States Patent Tritenne 1 June6, 1972 i541 SKEET SHOOTINGARRANGEMENT [72] Inventor: Claude R. Tritenne, 5, rue des Mesanges(Haute-Savoie Gaillard. France 221 Filed: Mar. 16,1970

211 Appl.No.: 19,791

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 21, I969 France ..6908230[52] U.S.Cl ..l02/34.l,42/i F. 102/497 [5 1] Int. CL... ....F42b 15/00,F4ic 27/06 [58] Field of Search ..42/l F; lO2/34, 34. i 37.1,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,440,333 12/1922 Braunger..42/] F 2,344,957 3/1944 2,456,812 12/1948 2,482.130 9/1949 2,630,3213/i953 l.359,425 i1/l920 3.245.350 4/1966 Primary Eraminer-$amuelFeinberg Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-George B. Oujevolk 57'ABSTRACT A skeet shooting assembly wherein the skeet has a hollowcentral channel with a cartridge therein. The ignition of the cartridgecharge is accomplished by means of a fuse fired by an elongated fusefiring element. preferably of pistol'type which penetrates the centralchannel and engages the cartridge.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SKEET SHOOTING ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in thepropulsion of skeets for shooting clay pigeons, and more particularly toa skeet shooting arrangement wherein the skeet has a hollow centerchannel for coaxially holding therein a cartridge with a propulsivecharge and to a skeet shooting assembly for carrying out the foregoingarrangement.

THE PRIOR ART One such skeet and its mode of propulsion is described inFrench Pat. No. 1,403,044. According to this French patent, thepropulsion is assured by the percussion of the cartridge through thepenetration of the hollow center of the skeet by a mechanical element.By varying the nature of the charge, as for example, by the introductionof different explosives in the cartridge, with the firing of successivelayers, there is obtained variations in the propulsion of the skeetwhich produces in its movements the flight irregularities of live game,independently of the configuration of the skeet. This mode ofpropulsion, which on one hand, permits the realization of a movementcertainly more satisfactory than that which results from the mechanicalpropulsion of an inert skeet, presents on the other hand theinconvenience of requiring a rather heavy explosive charge, which raisesthe production costs of the skeet and also presents certain dangers.

The present invention proposes to remedy this inconvenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, according to the presentconcept, the invention contemplates that the ignition of the chargeshall be caused by firing the fuse independently of the skeet, by aseparate fuse firing element. The explosion of the fuse thus assures thefiring of the charge, and the placing into motion of the skeet, becauseof the propulsion caused by the formed gases acting on the skeet. Italso becomes possible to reduce the force of the charge, since thecharge must merely provide for the launching of the skeet.

The firing of the charge can be obtained, for example by including inthe cartridge one or several channels permitting the hot gas and theflames emitted by the firing of the fuse to reach the propellantcomponents included in the cartridge.

The invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof will bebetter understood from the following detailed description, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAMNG FIG. 1 presents a longitudinal sectionalview of the skeet which can be propelled according to the inventiveconcept;

FIG. 2 presents a longitudinal sectional view of a fuse firing elementused to assure the firing of the fuse; and,

FIG. 3 presents a longitudinal sectional view of the skeet engagedtherein by the fuse firing element shown in FIG. 2.

The skeet designated herein for the whole device by 1, comprises a head2 and wings 3. A hollow center channel 4 ex tends the total length ofthe skeet having at its midlength an abrupt change in diameter, definingtwo distinct zones, 4a and 4b. The change in diameter forms a circularshoulder 5. A removable cartridge 6, lodged in hollow zone 4b extendsslightly into hollow zone 4a. The cartridge 6 comprises a fulminatingmaterial 7 disposed next to an explosive charge 8.

The element to fire the fuse, designated herein for a whole element asnumber 9, particularly includes a cannon 10, pierced by a longitudinalchannel 11. The diameter of the channel increases abruptly towards thefree end, defining two distinct channels,.11a and 11b, and the change isdiameter forms an annular shoulder 12. The channel 11b which constitutesthe firing chamber of the fuse includes an orifice 13 for the firing ofthe fuse.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the diameter of the channel corresponds to thatof the cartridge 6 in such a way that when the cannon l0 abuts onshoulder 5, a part of cartridge 6 enters the cannon. The entire assemblyoperates as follows: The components are disposed in accordance with FIG.3, the fuse is fired through orifice 13 giving rise to a flame whichburns fulrninating material 7 and produces gases which, guided bychannel 11b apply pressure against cartridge 6. Because it is subjectedto this pressure, the skeet starts moving, first along a long guide ramp(not shown), then in free flight. Meanwhile, the fulminating material 7is consumed and burns the propellant charge 8. The movement of the skeetis then assured by the combustion of this charge.

The skeet-shooter properly posted can at this time destroy the skeet bya proper shot, by a hunting rifle for example.

In carrying the present invention into practice, according to thepresent inventive concept, the firing of the charge can be obtained, forexample by including in the cartridge one or several channels permittingthe hot gas and the flames emitted by the firing of the fuse to reachthe propellant components included in the cartridge. Also, according toa preferred em bodiment, the fuse is fired by an element comprising, forexample, a signal pistol type of mechanism, modified so that the pistolcannon can be engaged to the hollow center channel of the skeet. Thisarrangement allows for simple and rapid handling, as the pistol can beloaded with several fuses at one time.

The firing of the charge can advantageously be done by a wick, a cord,or a heat-responsive fulminating component included in the charge. Thus,the firing of the charge is delayed and the skeet, because of thepropulsion produced by the gases caused by the explosion of the fuse,has already traveled several meters before the propulsion is assured forthe combustion of the charge itself. Thus, the skeet first performs auniform decelerating movement since the gas pressure decreases, thenwith a violent awakening of a subsequent movement of an indeterminateangle.

It is desirable to provide an elongated guide ramp (not shown) of sometens of centimeters to assure a proper flight of the skeet.

The charge can comprise, in a known manner, several propulsivecomponents wherein the combustion will cause variations in the movementof the skeet.

It is to be observed, therefore, that the present invention provides foran apparatus for carrying out the foregoing propulsion arrangement,which comprises on one hand, the combination of a skeet having a hollowcenter having lodged therein a coaxial cartridge holding a propulsioncharge, and, on the other hand, a modified signal pistol type ofapparatus wherein the cannon is so adapted and disposed that it canengage the center channel of the skeet,

Also, it will be observed that as used herein, the word cartridge refersparticularly to a cartridge of the cartouche type.

Although the invention has been particularly described, it is obviousthat modifications and variations of the invention are possible.

What is claimed is:

1. In a self propelled flying target the combination comprismg:

a generally elongated tubular body portion;

a plurality of wings attached to said body, said body including a firstbore portion extending from a forward portion to approximately the midpoint of said tubular body, a counterbore portion extending from therear of said tubular body forwardly to the approximate mid point of saidbody coaxial with said first bore to define a circular shoulder withinsaid bore at the point of intersection of said bore and saidcounterbore, a propellant cartridge disposed within said body, saidcartridge including a propellant charge portion disposed within saidbore and a fulrninating portion disposed within said counterbore,launching means complementary to and selectively disposed within saidcounterbore, said launching means including a fuse, means connectingsaid fuse with said fulminating portion of said cartridge and meansresponsive to the actuation of said fuse to actuate said fulminatingmaterial to simultaneously propel] said target from said launching meansand actuate said propellant charge to effect further propulsion of saidtarget.

2. The invention defined by claim 1 wherein said means interconnectingsaid fuse and said fulminating portion of said cartridge includes atleast one channel through which flame from said fuse actuates saidfulminating portion of said propellant cartridge.

3. The invention defined by claim 1 in which said launching meansincludes a pistol like component including a handle portion and a cannonportion, said cannon portion dimensioned to complement and extend withinsaid counterbore and to define a firing chamber therewithin, saidfulminating portion of said propellant cartridge at least partiallydisposed within said firing chamber when said target and said launchingdevice are in assembled relation.

4. The invention defined by claim 3 wherein said firing chamber isdefined by a bore of a diameter less than that of said cannon portiondisposed within said counterbore of said target body.

1. In a self propelleD flying target the combination comprising: agenerally elongated tubular body portion; a plurality of wings attachedto said body, said body including a first bore portion extending from aforward portion to approximately the mid point of said tubular body, acounterbore portion extending from the rear of said tubular bodyforwardly to the approximate mid point of said body coaxial with saidfirst bore to define a circular shoulder within said bore at the pointof intersection of said bore and said counterbore, a propellantcartridge disposed within said body, said cartridge including apropellant charge portion disposed within said bore and a fulminatingportion disposed within said counterbore, launching means complementaryto and selectively disposed within said counterbore, said launchingmeans including a fuse, means connecting said fuse with said fulminatingportion of said cartridge and means responsive to the actuation of saidfuse to actuate said fulminating material to simultaneously propell saidtarget from said launching means and actuate said propellant charge toeffect further propulsion of said target.
 2. The invention defined byclaim 1 wherein said means interconnecting said fuse and saidfulminating portion of said cartridge includes at least one channelthrough which flame from said fuse actuates said fulminating portion ofsaid propellant cartridge.
 3. The invention defined by claim 1 in whichsaid launching means includes a pistol like component including a handleportion and a cannon portion, said cannon portion dimensioned tocomplement and extend within said counterbore and to define a firingchamber therewithin, said fulminating portion of said propellantcartridge at least partially disposed within said firing chamber whensaid target and said launching device are in assembled relation.
 4. Theinvention defined by claim 3 wherein said firing chamber is defined by abore of a diameter less than that of said cannon portion disposed withinsaid counterbore of said target body.